England Faces Argentina in World Cup Semi-Final After Defeating Norway

Thomas Tuchel prepares England for the Argentina semi-final in Atlanta

Next up, Thomas Tuchel’s team will take on reigning champions Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. The winners of that match will then meet either France or Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday afternoon. Of course, Tuchel, his 26-man squad, and every England fan are focused on claiming the glory that comes with winning the World Cup. However, from the Football Association’s point of view, this deep run is also significant news for their coffers.

FIFA allocates $50 million in prize money for the World Cup winners

The financial stakes for the tournament are substantial. FIFA has structured prize money distribution based on the stage reached by each nation. The prize money for the tournament winners is $50 million (£37.3 million), while runners-up receive $33 million (£24.6 million). Third place earns $29 million (£21.6 million) and fourth place receives $27 million (£20 million). For reaching the quarter-finals, teams were awarded $19 million (£14.2 million). A total of $727 million in prize money is distributed across the tournament.

Despite the team’s progress, dominating the headlines in the lead-in to the semi-final date with Argentina has been a public spat between Bellingham and manager Thomas Tuchel. The midfielder took umbrage with some pointed post-game comments from the fiery German manager. The situation between the gaffer and the team’s biggest superstar is enough to send shivers down the spine of a notoriously pessimistic nation when it comes to major football tournaments.

For more on this story, see Declan Rice Expected to Start for England Against Argentina in Semi-Final.

“England are going to have to be all in together, and the spikiness of the match-winner’s post-game interviews needlessly risks that,” wrote football scribe Miguel Delaney in The Independent. Delaney noted, “They didn’t feel there was any need for Bellingham to react, and there’s even the inferred dismissal of Tuchel’s playing career, which can be a sore point for some coaches. There have been hints of it in the manager’s past.”

Guillem Balague analyzes Spain and France for the remaining World Cup bracket

In the other half of the bracket, Spain faces a contest against France. Spanish journalist Guillem Balague assessed the remaining field, noting that Spain is the “best team,” while France has the “best player and the most frightening attack.” Balague observed that Spain has a very good chance of making it to the final if they take the ball off France and stop their counters. Meanwhile, Argentina is expected to try to make the game against England “uneventful,” waiting for a moment of brilliance from Lionel Messi or Julian Alvarez.

Spain reached the quarter-finals at the SoFi Stadium after finishing top of Group H with seven points, recording two victories and one draw. Luis de la Fuente’s side began their campaign with a goalless draw against Cape Verde before beating Saudi Arabia. Spain remains the only team not to have conceded a goal this tournament. As the tournament reaches its conclusion, fans and analysts alike are weighing the strengths of the final four nations, with Balague stating, “All four semi-finalists have what is needed to win the tournament.”

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